“All incoming students are required to take Buffalo State Cares online,” said Joan McCool, director of the Counseling Center. The online course discusses how to recognize a person who is at risk of committing suicide, and how to intervene; almost 90 percent of people who participated in the training recommended it to others.

“One of the main objectives for Buffalo State Cares has been to make QPR training available to the campus community,” said McCool. QPR—question, persuade, and refer—are the keys to intervening successfully and preventing suicide.

The Counseling Center also seeks opportunities to bring QPR training into the classroom.

Lori Till, associate professor in the Hospitality and Tourism Department, invited Counseling Center staff to present a QPR training session to her Advanced Training in Hospitality class. “Friends of mine lost their child to suicide,” said Till, “so the training was very real to me.”

Student response to the QPR session was positive, and Till has incorporated it into her curriculum, ensuring that all students majoring in hospitality administration will receive it. “Careers in the hospitality industry are very fast paced and stressful,” she said. “I want our majors to have the tools to recognize employees and colleagues in need.”

Till’s students shared their insights after completing QPR training. “We learned different steps to prevent suicide,” wrote one.

“This training was very helpful in learning the way to talk to individuals who have the potential to commit suicide,” wrote another.

Several students commented on how helpful it was to learn what to say and do to help someone contemplating suicide. (Briefly: don’t be afraid to ask if the person is considering suicide, and persuade them to seek help, accompanying them if need be.)

According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), suicide is one of our nation’s greatest public health problems. One of this year’s goals for the Buffalo State Cares project is to improve access to emergency care providers at nearby facilities such as the Erie County Medical Center, the Buffalo VA Medical Center, BryLin Hospitals, and Buffalo General. McCool said, “Everyone should be aware that University Police officers are always available, and they are trained in dealing with a mental health crisis.” Crisis Services has a long history of partnership with the Counseling Center.

McCool said that students experience depression, anxiety, and stress due to issues including relationships and family, but many don’t seek help. “Students still feel a stigma about mental illness,” she said, “although it’s not as bad as it used to be. We are committed to breaking down all the barriers to getting help.” Those barriers carry a high price tag: nationally, suicide is the second leading cause of death on college campuses.

The Buffalo State Cares initiative seeks to reduce stigma, encourage intervention, and urge students to seek help. “No one has to go through a bad period alone,” said McCool.

Joan McCool, director of the Counseling Center, is the principal investigator for the grant; Meg Dee, project administrative officer for the Research Foundation at Buffalo State, is program manager. The grant is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.